gas hydrate - CCOP

Experimental Studies and Development Concept for
Offshore Natural Gas Hydrate
Qingping Li 1) , Hengyi Zeng 1) , Weiliang Dong, Ziping Feng 2) ,
Liangguang Tang 2) , Xiaosen Li 2)
1) CNOOC Research Center, Beijing, China
2) Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, The Chinese Academy of Sciences
ABSTRACT Based on the brief review of progress in natural gas hydrate
exploration this paper presents a concept of a development method for offshore
natural gas hydrate considering current deepwater engineering practice. A set of
one dimensional experimental facility have been constructed to simulate the natural
gas hydrate development process. Experimental studies of the depressurization and
heat injection method used for producing natural gases from hydrates have been
carried out. The hydrate dissociation kinetics, gas and water production rates,
which are meaningful for the pilot scale and real industry scale production of
natural hydrate, have been analyzed.
Keywords: natural gas hydrate, deepwater engineering; depressurization
production; heat injection
INTRODUCTION
Natural gas hydrate, known as “burning ice”, is one kind of unconventional energy source
with high energy density, wide distribution and vast reserves. In general the resource is
stored in permafrost regions and deepwater areas with water depth deeper than 300m. It is
estimated that the total resource of hydrate is equal to 1.8-2.1*10 16 m 3 methane gases, which
is double the total other currently known carbon energy resources (oil, coal, natural gas).
Globally, there are 84 offshore areas with hydrate that have been detected directly or
indirectly, and among them more than 20 sites have successfully yielded natural gas hydrate
cores. The trial productions of gases from the hydrate reservoirs in the permafrost areas have
also been carried out.
The extensive Chinese offshore area and its economical zones indicate great potential as a
source of natural gas hydrates. For example, important evidence has been observed in several
specific settings in the east and south sea. How to exploit and utilize the natural gas hydrate,
one of the most promising and potential clean new energy resources, is the focus of not only
China but also many other countries.
PROGRESSES ON NATURAL GAS HYDRATE PRODUCTION
As earlier as 1810, Sir Humphrey Davy of the British Royal Society first produced chlorine
hydrate in the laboratory. However, it was not until 1971 that the former Soviet Union
successfully exploited for the first time a natural hydrate reservoir in its permafrost area.
Since then more and more interest has been being focused on gas hydrate research.
The basic hydrate production methods
New Energy Resources in the CCOP Region - Gas Hydrates and Coalbed Methane 65